AVERYI steal a glance at King Striker. His expressions match his words. Shock and confusion fill the faces of the others too.Instinctively, I scoff and glare at Dustin. He held back information again.“ Mate? Did you meet your mate in the South, Ava? ” Nora gasps, her eyes widening and flickering towards Dustin.As usual, my brother doesn’t care even if his lies come to light. He is just that unbothered. “ Well, didn’t my brother tell you that Aleister Anasazi…the Lycan King of the South… ” I turn to the others again and trail off. They hold their breaths, their eyes fixed on me. It’s as if the wheels are turning in their heads as they hope that Aleister is not the one.I continue. “ Aleister is my fated mate. ”Amelia yelps dramatically and places her palm over her mouth to suppress further sounds of surprise. With a frown, Tyson stares at me and King Striker appears pissed off as he glares at Dustin.Nora, however, looks comical with her parted lips and twitching brows. “ are yo
AVERY“ Will you threaten me with that secret again? ”My question makes her eyes narrow and her breathing labored. She glares at me for a moment, probably contemplating which approach to take.To my surprise, the others stand by, never interfering or saying anything. “ What are you talking about?! ” When the wheels stop turning in her mind, she fakes innocence and huffs.I shake my head. “ You are the worst of evil. Nothing can ever make you change, Mom. ”“ How dare you! ” She screeches, lifting her hand to hit me.I catch her wrist mid-air, and sneer. “ don’t you dare try it again! ”Her eyes widen. “ You have gone mad! Dustin— ” She looks at him from over her shoulder. “ Look what your sister is doing! ”My gaze flickers towards him. He stands there, still unfazed and as calm as water. There is nothing in his eyes that can betray any emotion.“ Dustin! ” Mom shouts. “ Don’t you get it, Mom? ” I whisper, throwing her hand away. “ Just like he didn’t step in when you hit me, he wo
AVERY“ The boy has risen from the dead. ” The screams were all I could hear.“ The Prince can use his ability. ” They continued to yell.But I was on the rock, my limbs twisted at weird angles. My head hurt, and the pain made it impossible for me to see anything. It felt like there was blood in my eyes and a red veil hid everything from my sight.Dustin. My mind kept calling out to him. The warriors that came to kill him had not taken pity on him. They came with ruthless orders. They had to tighten a rope around Dustin’s neck and halt his breaths. They wanted him to disappear.But I didn’t want him to go.He was the only one who played with me, comforted me, and protected me. He was always there when Dad wanted to hurt me or when Mom shouted at me.I tried to save him. But he kept pushing me away. He wanted me to live. But how could I live without him? My Brother. He was my only family. The pain kept growing in my spine. It felt like it was broken. That’s why a bone was poking ou
AVERY“ You knew. ” “ Now I can say…you have grown up. ” Dustin’s face appears in my sight that was filled with the ceiling before. “ but you still haven’t learned to keep yourself together. ”“ You knew. ” I repeat, a lump forming in my throat again.My eyes hurt. I touch them with my fingers to find them swollen. “ About Mom, Dad, and everything else? ” Dustin lifts his brows.He knew. Why don’t I find it surprising? “ You knew what I did. ” I mumble, sitting up in the bed. “ You always knew. Is that why you were disappointed in me? ”Dustin steps away to let me sit up properly before he takes a seat on the bed beside my feet.“ Is that why you let Mom trample all over you? ” Dustin’s gaze rests on the window.I purse my lips. “ You knew she was abusing me all this time? ” Dustin glances my way, a strange fleeting look in his eyes before he fixes his gaze on the window again.“ It’s time you know one thing. ” He says, composed and calm.I stiffen. “ what? ”“ That woman… ” He sta
AVERYRight after Dustin leaves, Nora comes barging inside. Startled, I stare at her as she closes the distance between us hurriedly and grabs my arms.“ Don’t you know you shouldn’t stress yourself at such an important time?! ” She says, frowning at me.Dumbfounded, I don’t even get the time to push her away as she wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me.“ I am sorry. I am so sorry. ” She whispers. “ I should have done better with you. I should have…not treated you like that. ”My whole body stiffens as my hands hang in the air. “ Leave me, Nora. ”“ No, you told me everything that was going through your head so you should listen to what I have to say too. ” She says, shaking her head.Annoyed, I grab her arms to push her away but she keeps holding me.“ I never wanted to hurt you. Trust me. I could never imagine you were feeling like this. ” She utters.“ I have heard all of that, Nora. ” Sighing, I give up on forcing her away. “ I said what I wanted to say to you. Now I am at pe
AVERYCan a few words rattle your world, make your breath stop, and freeze you in the moment forever? Yes, they can.“ You are pregnant… Did you not want it? Is that why you are turning pale? ”The voice in my ear is so faint, I can hardly hear it.“ Are you feeling alright? Is something wrong, Ava? ”Ava.Avery.Avi. Princess.To others, I have assumed so many names and gave them a version they wanted.But what did I always want? ‘ You can’t even bear a child. What use is a woman who can not bear a King’s child? ’ That woman’s voice is still there, hateful and angry.Yes, that’s what I always have wanted. I have wanted a child to prove that I am a worthy woman. A child will fix everything. If only I carry a child, I won’t be called those names again. Barren. Useless. Unworthy. But Aleister didn’t think that. For him, in all truth, I have been a perfect woman. Someone he loved despite knowing what I couldn’t provide him.Maybe…That’s why…This news doesn’t bring me relief. This c
AVERY“ What are you doing now? ” Nora is hot on my tail while Renee comes around the corner and joins the others.“ Princess.”“ I told you what I am doing. ” I can’t stop smiling.“ Who are you trying to hurt? ” Nora sighs.“ Princess Avery, I suggest you stop pushing your limits. You should be resting. ” King Striker comments.“ Striker is right, Avery. Why do you keep running around? I get that you are angry, but it’s too much now. You need to think about your health. ” Tyson joins in.“ Why don’t you tell that to your mate, Your Highness? Stop eating my brain. I told you, I have no desire to be friends with my ex-fiance. Besides, you were never a good fiance anyway. I am glad you got Amelia and I got rid of you. ” I snicker.An awkward silence hangs in the air before Nora sighs. “ Ava. ”“ Oh, here we are. ” I stop outside that woman’s room.The group halts behind me, all looming over my head, and concerned about my next move.“ Ava, think this through. ” Nora pokes my arm again.
ALEISTER—3 Days Later…I hear her voice sometimes. Inside my head.She keeps calling my name and telling me that she needs me. Sometimes, I think she is crying and it makes my blood boil in my veins.However, I can’t believe it’s true. First of all, why would she cry if she went there by herself? Second of all, I can’t run after her to make sure it’s her and not my imagination.Right now, a bigger issue stands before me. If I avoid this, it will mean I don’t give a fuck about my people which will never happen.“ I had to keep them hidden. Your father didn’t care anyway so I thought they would be better off in the villages. The mothers didn’t tell those girls that they are your sisters. It kept them safe until now but sometimes…people question their extraordinary abilities which is making it harder to keep them a secret anymore. ” Noelle says.I sigh, rubbing my temples. How many children did my father bring into this world? It feels like he slept with a new woman every night and now